Selma L. Anderson

Selma Louise (Berge) Anderson, Detroit Lakes, MN, died on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Essentia Health – Oak Crossing, in Detroit Lakes, MN.  She was 98.

            Selma was born on September 24, 1925, in Morris, IL, to Osmund and Helene (Dorheim) Berge.  She grew up in Morris and graduated from Morris High School in 1943.  Selma and a high school classmate, Robert L. “Bob” Anderson, followed the recommendation of their church’s pastor and a local doctor and enrolled at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, a 660-mile train ride away.  She graduated in 1947, and taught mathematics in Fertile, MN, for one year.  Bob and Selma were married on Aug. 28, 1948.  His college years interrupted by military service in World War II, Bob graduated from Concordia in 1949, completed religious coursework at Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul and was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1952.

Bob served congregations in five cities during 43 years of full-time ministry:  Cameron, WI; Mitchell, SD; St. Paul, MN; Moorhead, MN, (Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (1970-85); and Kenosha, WI.  Upon his retirement in 1995, the couple returned to Moorhead.

Faith life mixed with the demands of raising five children.  Selma was a Boy and Girl Scout leader for her children’s scouting units.  She led religious instruction for church youth and participated in the congregations’ women’s Bible study groups.  She also enjoyed collecting stamps, cross stitching, and scrapbooking, displaying a care for detail also exhibited in her work and academic studies.

When the children grew older, a lifelong love of learning led Selma to pursue graduate studies in special education at Minnesota State University Moorhead.  She later was employed at Concordia as an administrative secretary responsible for carrying out programming for the Fargo-Moorhead Communiversity and Summer Theological Conference. 

Proud of her Norwegian heritage, she was social and cultural director for the local Kenosha Sons of Norway chapter.  Also in Kenosha, she was president of County Family Community Education, held positions with the local Church Women United and was a board member of the Southwest Wisconsin Literacy Groups and the public museum.

Selma is survived by a sister, Marian (“Pete”) Thompson, of Cedar Rapids, IA; a daughter, Deborah (Laan) Dommer, of Red Wing, MN, their children, Andrew, Elisabeth (Paul) Huey, and Danelle (Jason) Razo; and four sons: David (Diane) Anderson, of New Brighton, MN; Mark (Ann) Anderson, of Lino Lakes, MN, their children, Adam and Laura; Daniel (Kim) Anderson, of Detroit Lakes, MN, their children, Erin (Tom) Aulik and Michael (Allysa) Anderson; and Stephen Anderson, of Shoreview, MN; and seven  great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 62 years, Bob, in 2011; and a sister, Anna Anderson, of Cedar Rapids, IA, in 2010.

Selma lived at Oak Crossing from November 2022 until her death.  Before Oak Crossing, she lived at Eventide Linden assisted living in Moorhead for four years. The family thanks the staff at both facilities for providing loving care and support.

The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Eventide Foundation, Essentia Health Foundation (Oak Crossing) or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Selma’s funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be in Prairie Home Cemetery, Moorhead.

To view Selma's funeral service from Good Shepherd YouTube, please follow this link.  It will be active shortly before the funeral begins.

https://www.youtube.com/user/moorheadgoodshepherd